Lead Supplier Quality Engineer – Optical Transceiver Products

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Position Title: Lead Supplier Quality Engineer – Optical Transceiver Products

Employment Type: Full-time, Existing vacancy

Location: San-Jose (On-Site)

About Lumentum

At Lumentum, we’re building the tech behind the world’s fastest networks and most advanced systems. Our optical and photonic solutions power everything from AI and cloud computing to data centers, telecom, and advanced manufacturing.

We’re a global team of innovators working where light meets technology, solving big challenges that keep the world connected and moving forward. If shaping the future of connectivity excites you, you’ll fit right in.

Why You’ll Love This Role

Lumentum is seeking an experienced Lead Supplier Quality Engineer (SQE) to drive supplier quality excellence for our industry-leading optical transceiver portfolio supporting next-generation AI clusters, hyperscale cloud data centers, enterprise networking, and high-speed optical communications.

As the Prime SQE for the Transceiver products, you will partner closely with Product Engineering, Commodity Management, Global Sourcing, Manufacturing, Reliability Engineering, and strategic suppliers to ensure supplier capability, manufacturing readiness, and product quality throughout the entire product lifecycle—from technology development and supplier selection through New Product Introduction (NPI), production ramp, and sustaining manufacturing.

This role is ideal for a technically strong engineer who understands high-speed optical transceiver products, supplier manufacturing technologies, and complex product development. Success requires the ability to influence technical decisions across global organizations and develop supplier capabilities that enable innovation, scalability, and world-class product quality. 

What You’ll Be Doing

Product & Business Ownership

• Serve as the Prime Supplier Quality Engineer for the Business Unit.
• Own the supplier quality strategy supporting the Transceiver product roadmap.
• Provide supplier quality leadership throughout the complete product lifecycle, from concept development through sustaining production.
• Partner with Product Engineering, and Commodity Management to influence supplier selection, technology roadmaps, manufacturing strategy, and supplier capability development.
• Support multiple concurrent NPI programs while balancing business priorities and supplier readiness.

Supplier Quality & Supplier Development

• Lead supplier qualification, manufacturing capability assessments, process audits, and supplier readiness evaluations.
• Evaluate supplier manufacturing maturity, process capability, capacity, scalability, and operational excellence.
• Develop supplier improvement roadmaps that improve quality, yield, process capability, and manufacturing robustness.
• Identify supplier risks and develop mitigation strategies supporting business continuity, supply resiliency, and product quality.
• Drive Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma initiatives with strategic suppliers.

New Product Introduction (NPI)

• Partner with Product Development, Component Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, and Program Management to ensure supplier readiness for new product introductions.
• Participate in Design Reviews and Design for Manufacturability (DFM), and Design for Excellence (DFX) activities with Engineering and suppliers.
• Lead supplier process qualification, First Article Inspection (FAI), process validation, and production readiness activities.
• Support production ramp, supplier transfers, manufacturing transfers, localization projects, and capacity expansion initiatives.
• Ensure suppliers meet quality, reliability, manufacturability, and delivery requirements prior to production release.

Engineering & Technical Leadership

• Act as the primary technical quality interface between Lumentum and strategic suppliers.
• Influence engineering and supplier decisions without direct authority.
• Lead supplier technical reviews, quality reviews, and executive escalation activities.
• Drive supplier capability development for advanced optical manufacturing technologies.
• Support engineering teams with supplier manufacturing expertise during product development and technology transfers.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with Product Engineering, Component Engineering, Commodity Management, Global Sourcing, Manufacturing, Reliability Engineering, Operations, Program Management, and Customer Quality.
• Support cost reduction initiatives, supplier changes, value engineering, and manufacturing optimization.
• Utilize supplier quality metrics, manufacturing data, and statistical analysis to improve supplier capability and product quality.
• Drive proactive supplier risk management and manufacturing readiness throughout the product lifecycle.

What We’re Looking For

Education:
Bachelor's degree in Optical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, Physics, Mechanical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.

Experience:
Core Requirements:

• Minimum 8 years of experience in Supplier Quality Engineering, Manufacturing Quality, Product Quality, or Quality Engineering within a high-technology manufacturing environment.
• Technical understanding of optical transceiver architecture, including high-speed electronics, optical engines, laser assemblies, photonic components, PCBAs, and final module integration.
• Experience with Silicon Photonics, Co-Packaged Optics (CPO), advanced optical packaging, or photonic integration.
• Experience supporting the development or manufacture of optical transceiver modules or related high-speed communication products.
• Knowledge of high-speed electrical systems, signal integrity, electronic manufacturing technologies, and optical packaging.
• Experience with PCBA manufacturing processes, including SMT assembly, PCB fabrication, electronic component qualification, and supplier manufacturing processes.
• Experience supporting New Product Introduction (NPI), supplier qualification, process validation, and manufacturing ramp.
• Excellent communication, organizational, project management, and leadership skills.
• Demonstrated ability to influence cross-functional technical decisions across engineering, manufacturing, sourcing, and suppliers.
• Willingness to travel domestically and internationally (approximately 20–30%).

Perks You’ll Love

• Flexible time off
• Health and wellness benefits (physical and mental)
• Tuition reimbursement and career growth support
• A workplace built for you: free gym, games room, prayer room
• Subsidized meals, free coffee/tea
• Employee stock options and incentive plans
• A collaborative, innovative, and inclusive culture

Join a Team That’s Shaping the Future

At Lumentum, we’re more than just a workplace—we’re a launchpad for creativity and innovation. We’re committed to celebrating your unique talents and helping you grow. Our guiding principles—Innovate, Engage, Deliver, Excel, and Win—aren’t just words; they’re the heart of what we do.

Let’s Build a Brighter Future Together!

We’re committed to building an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and empowered. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and provide accommodations for individuals with disabilities throughout the hiring process. Your uniqueness makes us stronger, sparks creativity, and drives our success.

Please contact us at [email protected] to request accommodation.

Join us—your future starts here!

Pay Range:

Disclaimer:

Final base salary for the successful candidate will depend on multiple factors, including but not limited to, job location, where work will be performed, qualifications, work history and relevant experience. With our continual goal of making Lumentum a best place to work for our employees, we strive to offer employees competitive total compensation packages, which may include annual bonus, commission for certain sales roles, equity, and health and welfare benefits.